Increased flights, simplified visa rules ease travel to Southeast Asia

21 Mar 2024 CW Team

Just before the start of the summer travel season, India and Thailand recently finalized an agreement that would permit airlines to increase the number of flights between the two countries.

During a meeting in Bangkok, it was agreed by the countries to boost capacity by 14,000 seats per week for both sides, representing a 43% increase. Government officials mentioned that this increase would occur in two phases, with 7,000 seats added in each phase.

The government has also redistributed the flying rights of Go First - which were initially allocated to the airline before its bankruptcy filing - among other Indian airlines, granting them permission to expand their flights to various destinations, including Bangkok, Phuket, and Singapore.

There has been a significant rise in traffic to Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia since these countries relaxed their visa regulations for Indian travellers.

According to an official familiar with the matter, the next phase of flight expansion between India and Thailand will commence once carriers from either side have utilized 80% of their existing seat allocations.

Flying rights are distributed on a bilateral reciprocal basis by governments to their respective airlines, ensuring that airlines do not exceed their allotted flight quotas.

Presently, Indian airlines have been allocated 32,000 seats, while Thai carriers can operate up to 29,500 seats per week. The necessity to expand the agreement arose because Thai carriers have fully utilised their allocation, and Indian airlines have utilized 80% of their share.

Furthermore, Indian airlines have obtained rights to operate flights to four new airports in Thailand - Udon Thani, Surat Thani, Hat Yai, and Chiang Rai.

India's airlines are gearing up to expand their flight operations to Southeast Asian destinations, which are emerging as new hubs for Indian outbound travel due to the relaxation of visa rules and the signing of new air service agreements with New Delhi. Just before the start of the summer travel season, India and Thailand recently finalized an agreement that would permit airlines to increase the number of flights between the two countries. During a meeting in Bangkok, it was agreed by the countries to boost capacity by 14,000 seats per week for both sides, representing a 43% increase. Government officials mentioned that this increase would occur in two phases, with 7,000 seats added in each phase. The government has also redistributed the flying rights of Go First - which were initially allocated to the airline before its bankruptcy filing - among other Indian airlines, granting them permission to expand their flights to various destinations, including Bangkok, Phuket, and Singapore. There has been a significant rise in traffic to Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia since these countries relaxed their visa regulations for Indian travellers. According to an official familiar with the matter, the next phase of flight expansion between India and Thailand will commence once carriers from either side have utilized 80% of their existing seat allocations. Flying rights are distributed on a bilateral reciprocal basis by governments to their respective airlines, ensuring that airlines do not exceed their allotted flight quotas. Presently, Indian airlines have been allocated 32,000 seats, while Thai carriers can operate up to 29,500 seats per week. The necessity to expand the agreement arose because Thai carriers have fully utilised their allocation, and Indian airlines have utilized 80% of their share. Furthermore, Indian airlines have obtained rights to operate flights to four new airports in Thailand - Udon Thani, Surat Thani, Hat Yai, and Chiang Rai.

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